Kimberly Venable

Education: B.S., finance, St. Cloud State University; Master’s in management, Troy State University

Family: Husband, Barry; two boys

Kim Venable recalls being the first female primary staff officer for the 10th Special Forces Group in Colorado. The novelty of her gender didn’t last long after 9/11 and women joined the military in greater numbers.

What’s the biggest turning point in your career and how did that lead you to what you are doing today?

The biggest turning point was 9/11. I had just started a new position with the Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado. The pace was phenomenal as the training intensity and missions increased tremendously. Another notable date for me was the Red Bulls 2009 deployment to Iraq, where I deployed as their assistant resource manager.

What are your job responsibilities today?

As a weekend reservist, I am the primary resource management officer for the Red Bull Division. I manage the division’s budget during deployments and I currently work full time as a recruiting and staffing specialist at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

What’s your proudest community achievement?

Definitely my 26 combined years of active and reserve service is probably my biggest achievement, especially since I was only planning on doing a six-year tour. My husband and I are very active in our children’s activities, too, such as the Boy Scouts, and we’re board members for our local hockey and lacrosse associations.

What’s the best advice you received from a mentor, and what’s your best advice to women entering your field?

I was always told that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. Never accept the standard as good enough. Work hard to exceed expectations and don’t forget to acknowledge those that have helped you along the way.